May 24--St. Croix -- From 9 am to 4 pm, electrical service will be interrupted to approximately 149 customers in Estate Richmond, on St. Croix’s Feeder 1A. The service interruption will allow WAPA’s contractor Haugland Energy to upgrade the current wiring in the Estate Richmond area. Also, approximately 30 customers in the Estate Seven Hills area of St. Croix will experience an electrical service interruption through 6 pm today. WAPA is working to replace four downed utility poles following an incident earlier today.

Press Releases

WAPA Announces Updated Budget for Propane Conversion Project

(Thursday, November 20, 2014)

WAPA Announces Updated Budget for Propane Conversion Project
Anticipated 30% Fuel Cost Savings will Not be Impacted by New Budget

Today the Virgin Islands Water and Power Authority (WAPA) and Vitol, WAPA’s partner and supplier for the propane conversion project, announced an updated project budget. The revised budget, for the projects on St. Thomas and St. Croix, does not impact the benefits of the propane conversion for the Territory. WAPA’s use of propane is still expected to begin in the first quarter of 2015.

Since signing the initial contract in July 2013 the project partners have implemented an aggressive schedule to deliver the benefits of the propane conversion to the Territory as soon as possible. The project commenced with an initial estimated project budget before the front end engineering and design (FEED) was complete. Following the completion of the FEED, the project leadership anticipated needed adjustments to the budget. The need for the adjustment to the project budget was realized as unforeseen complications arose. These complications have resulted in the need to increase the project budget. The new total project budget is $150 million.

It is important to note, that although the project’s costs have increased, customer savings from the switch to propane will not be impacted. WAPA remains committed to maintaining savings for all customers, and fuel costs will still be reduced 30% due to the conversion from fuel oil to propane. These fuel cost savings will be passed along directly to customers.

Commenting on the revised budget WAPA Executive Director Hugo V. Hodge Jr. said, “I want to assure our customers that the adjusted project budget will not impact the amount of savings expected for WAPA customers, or the improvements to air quality that the conversion project will deliver for the territory. We continue to anticipate a 30% reduction in the cost of fuel and a 20% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions. While the amortization period will be longer, the economic and environmental benefits will not be forfeited. We continue to look forward with great anticipation to providing these benefits to the community as soon as possible.”

The increased cost of the project is being shared by the project partners, WAPA and Vitol. Vitol is still paying all upfront costs and WAPA will now repay Vitol according to a new amortization schedule. WAPA and Vitol had previously agreed to an amortization period of seven years with the option to complete payment in five years. The amortization period has been extended to ten years, with the option to complete payment in seven years.

The primary reasons for the project cost increase are improvements in the scope of the project and the cost of permitting and materials to complete the project. For example, the offshore propane storage vessel will now be held in place using a permanent mooring instead of being anchored in place. This is a safer and more secure way to keep the fuel in place during periods of inclement weather. Another driver of the cost increase was undocumented soil conditions and underground obstacles at the St. Croix site. On St. Thomas the volume of rock needed to be removed from the site was far greater than anticipated. Weather-related delays, maintenance, and clean-up after storms have also impacted the project budget.

Project Background
On July 25, 2013, WAPA signed a contract with Vitol Virgin Islands Corporation to build the infrastructure needed to handle and store propane, and to convert seven of WAPA’s existing GE turbines to burn propane. The project is expected to reduce WAPA’s fuel cost by approximately 30%, or $90 million annually, which will be realized by ratepayers. The project will also reduce emissions of greenhouse gases by approximately 20% and greatly reduce emissions of particulate matter from both power plants. The preliminary budget estimate for the project was $87 million. That number was determined before final front end engineering and design (FEED) work was completed, and before permitting activities had begun. The project always envisioned adjustments to this number following the FEED process.
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